New Mexico Legislature
The State Legislature of New Mexico | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Representatives |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 112 |
Political groups | Democratic Party Republican Party Independent Party |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 2010 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Capitol, Santa Fe | |
| Website | |
| http://nmlegis.gov/ | |
The New Mexico Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of New Mexico. It is a bicameral body made up of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the New Mexico Senate.
Session structure and operations
The Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. The New Mexico Constitution limits the regular session to 60 calendar days, every other year it is 30 days.[1] The lieutenant governor, elected statewide separately from the governor, presides over the Senate, while the Speaker of the House]] is elected from that body in a closed door majority member caucus. Both have wide latitude in choosing committee membership in their respective houses and have a large impact on lawmaking in the state.
Only the Governor may call the Legislature into special sessions, unlike other states where the legislature may call itself into session. The Governor may call as many sessions as she wishes. The New Mexico Constitution does not limit the duration of each special session; lawmakers may consider only those issues designated by the Governor in her "call," or proclamation convening the special session (though other issues may be added by the Governor during a session).[2]
Any bill passed by the Legislature takes effect 90 days after its passage unless two-thirds of each house votes to give the bill either immediate effect or earlier effect. The Legislature, of course, may provide for an effective date that is after the 90th day.
Districting
The legislature consists of 70 representatives and 42 senators. Each member of the House represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico. Each member of the Senate represents roughly 43,300 residents. The Democratic Party holds a majority in both the House and Senate. The Republican Party holds the Governor's office.
Redistricting
A legislative committee is assigned by the governor to meet every 10 years based on the outcome of the US Census to redistrict the boundaries of districts for the state legislature, and congressional districts.[3]
Term limits
Currently, there are no term limits for legislatures. The longest current member of the legislature has served since the 1970s. House members are elected every 2 years, while Senate members are elected every 4 years.[4]
Party summary
State Senate
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic| | Template:American politics/party colors/Republican| | |||
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 24 | 18 | 42 | 0 |
| Begin | 27 | 15 | 42 | 0 |
| January 1, 2011[5] | 14 | 41 | 1 | |
| January 14, 2011[6] | 15 | 42 | 0 | |
| Latest voting share | 64.3% | 35.7% | ||
House of Representatives
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic| | Template:American politics/party colors/Independent| | Template:American politics/party colors/Republican| | ||||
| Democratic | Ind | Republican | Vacant | |||
| End of previous legislature | 42 | 0 | 28 | 70 | 0 | |
| Begin | 37 | 0 | 33 | 70 | 0 | |
| January 26, 2011[7] | 36 | 1 | ||||
| Latest voting share | 52.9% | 47.1% | ||||
External links
- New Mexico Legislature official website
References
- ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/lcsdocs/sessionsdates.pdf
- ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/statutes.aspx
- ^ http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/redcensus/
- ^ http://crcmich.org/PUBLICAT/2000s/2007/note200703.pdf
- ^ Republican Dianna Duran (District 40) resigned to take office as Secretary of State.
- ^ Republican Bill Burt appointed to replace Duran.
- ^ Democrat Andrew Nunez (District 36) switches parties to Independent.